Hi guys,

Does anybody know if it is a requirement to take out long stay health cover whilst visiting Canada for 6 months?

Also are the any other alternatives inside of Canada for a British person?

I will of course look to get some form of cover but it will likely be whilst I actually get to Ontario.

Thanks guys.

Shit happens so they say.
IMHO being in a foreign country without coverage and not covered by that countries health services is a risk you take.
A couple of hundred quid on a policy as opposed to a few thousand quid of having to pay seems a no brainer to me.
No legal requirement to have it as a tourist per se but stoopidity to me if you don't.

A fair comment and I agree.

I'm just trying to avoid the larger costing things before I go as best I can so my bank statements look a bit better.

As soon as I am there I have no problem paying for things since I will be supported and as you say health insurance is the no brainer.

You get sick without health coverage and your bank balance will disappear. Coverage you can buy in Canada, Blue Cross for example, is nowhere near as good as what you can buy in the UK.

With the introduction of Super Visa's there are a lot of canadian companies out there now providing longer term medical insurance to visitors, I have used http://www.kanetix.ca/travel-visitors-to-canada

Don't risk it... beg, borrow or steal the money you need for the insurance before you board that plane...
My Mum had a stroke whilst she was visiting us. Her insurance paid up but if she hadn't had any it would have been approx $7000 and that was as an outpatient...

Try Ace Insurance, reasonable quote and cover for 13 months. Have to be in UK to buy, and there are age restrictions, but it worked well for us.

+1
We had to take our daughter to A&E in calgary. $350 just to get in the door, plus another $250 to be given a quick examination and be told she was ok.